Amusement apparatus



Marchl 8 1927. 1,619,988

H. N. RlDGwAY AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed July 15, 192s 9 z sheets-sheet 1` Fig. l,

Ahys.

March 8 1927. 1,619,988

H. N` RIDGWAY AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a4 Fig, 3, g-l/f v Invenror Herberr N. Ridgway Patented Mar. 8, 192.7.

entre stars atraen P T E N 'l il@ F l@ if AMUSEIVIENT APPARATUS.

Application filed July 15, 1925. Serial No. 43,867.

This invention relates to an amusement apparatus and has Jfor its object to provide a novel apparatus comprising one or more compartments each adapted to be occupied by a person or some ob]l ect, and each having an exit opening, a door normally closing said opening, a chute extending downwardly from the door, and means to open the door so as to allow the occupant of the compartment, if the'compartment is occupied by a person, or the contents of the compartments to slide down the chute.

A further object o1 the invention is to provide a device of this sort in which the door for each compartment is normally latched by a latch device which can be released by the impact of a thrown object. This form of the invention is specially adaptable for amusement resorts, in which case I pre- `fer to arrange the doors and the latch-releasing mechanisms thereoic so that each door will have a target which when hit by a thrown ball will release the latch. 1lVith this arrangement the patrons of the apparatus may by paying a required 'fee have a certain number of chances to throw balls at the targets o-n the doors and it any throw is accurate and the target is hit the corresponding door will be opened so that the occupant of the compartment may slide down theV chute.

In order to give an understanding Ioi my invention I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through an apparatus embodying my invention taken on substantially the line 1--1, Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal View talren on the line 2 2, Fig. l; v

Fig. 53 is a. section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. l is an enlarged horizontal section through one ot' the doors showing the dooro} ening device;

Fig. 5 is avertical section through one of the doors showing the latch and the latchreleasing means;

6 is an inside view of one of the doors.

Referring to the drawings l indicates compartments, ot which there may be one or any desired number, and each of which is large enough to accommodate a person. Each compartment is provided with a door 2 which is normally closed but is arranged to be opened as will be presently described. EX- tending downwardly from the door oi' each compartment is a slide or chute 3 which terminates at its lower end in an upturned portion t. The arrangement is such that whenever a door 2 of any compartment is opened the occupant thereof or any object in the compartment may slide down the chute.

Situated in front oi' the chute is a space 5 which is intended to be occupied by the patrons of the amusement apparatus. The persons in the area 5 have a view of the doors of the compartment and also of the chute. l

Means are provided for normally holding the doors 2 closed thus concealing the occupants of the compartments from the view of the patrons. Means are also provided whereby the latch for each door may be released by the impact or" a ball or other similar object thrown against a target carried by the door and in using the device the proprietor will offer for sale at a stipulated price a certain number of chances to throw balls or other objects at the targets of the doors. 1f the personV throwing theball makes an accurate shot he will hit the door so that the occupant of the opened compartment may slide down the `chute in full view of the patrons.

While any suitable means for accomplishing this may be employed l have herein illustrated a simple but practical construction.

Each door 2 is acted on by a spring 6 which tends to open the door, said spring being herein shown as a pulling spring connected at one end to the wall oi the compartment as shown at 7 and at the other end to an arm 8 extending at an angle from the inside of the door adjacent the hinge. The doors are made to open outwardly and when each door is unlatched the spring 6 quickly throws the door open. Each door may be latched in its closed position by means of a latch member 9 pivoted to the door at l0 and adapted to engage a keeper l1 on the door frame. This latch may kconveniently be situated at the top of the door.

As stated above the means for releasing the'latch includes a target at which the patrons may throw balls or other objects. Situated on the inside oi each door 2 is a latchreleasing member 12 which is pivoted intermediate of its ends, to the door as shown at 13. rlhe upper end 14 ot this latch-releas lng member overlies the tail 15 ot the latch, the latter being acted on by a spring 16 which normally holds the latch in its operative position.

The door 2 has an opening 17 therein in line with the lower end 18 ot the latch-releasing member and the construction is such that when a ball or other object is thrown through the opening 17 and impacts against the lower end 18 ot the latch-releasing member the latter will be given a slight turning movement which will bring the upper end lel against the tail 15 of the latch with a hammer-like movement which will be sutiicient to release the latch and allow the spring 6 to open the door.

19 indicates a table or counter situated between the chute and the space 5 for the patrons, this being a counter at which the balls or other objects to be thrown at the target will be sold.

Situated at one or both sides oitl the chute is a runway 20 leading from the lower end ot the chute back to the compartments. Each runway will preferably be separated from the chute by a partition 21 which is shown as having a door opening 22 therein opposite the lower end ot the chute so that when the occupant of any compartment has slid down the chute he or she may enter the doorway 22 and pass back to the compartment through the runway 20. llhe compartments 1 preferably all communicate with Cach other through a passageway 23 at the back with which also the runways 2O communicate.

The apparatus may be provided with a root 24 or may be in the open as desired.

VMeans are provided whereby the doors may be closed from the front of the chute so that after a door has been opened by reason ot the 'tact that its target has been hitl by the ball said door may be closed by the attendant at the counter. For this purpose each door has secured thereto a pull cord 3() which extends around direction pulleys 31 and leads to a position within convenient reach o'l' the operator at vthe counter 19.

4One way ot using the device is to station a person in each compartment l. These persons may be attired in ditlierent costumes it desired. Each customer or patron who de sires'to can purchase at the counter 19 the right-to throw three or more balls at the 'target-s 1S. it any thrown ball hits the targietY then the corresponding door will be opened automatically as above described and the occupant el the enmpartment will slide down the chute in tull view Ao't the persons occupying` the area 5. The descent of such person will be terminated by the upturned part- 4r ot the chute and said person will then pick himseltor herseltup and enter the door 22 and return to the compartment through the runway 20.

The enjoyment which the patrons receive trom this apparatus comes partly from the tact that the throwing ot the balls at the tarOets is a test of skill and partly from the uncertainty as to what will be forthcoming from the compartment and partly from the amusement which is always afforded by watching' a person slide down a chute in various attitudes which result trom being unexpectedly precipitated onto the chute. i

1. In an amusement device the combination with a chute, of a compartment at the upper end of vthe chute having a door opening leading to the chute, a door for closing said opening, a latch to hold the door closed, a latch-releasing' member situated on the inside oi the door, the latter having an opening through which a port-ion ofthe latchreleasing member is exposed, said portion forming a target at which an article may be thrown, the movement of the latch-releasing member due to the impact 0i an article thrown against it operating to release the latch, and means to Vautomatically open the door when the latch is released.

2. In an amusement device the combinan tion with a chute, ot a compartment at the upper end of the chute having a door open ing leading to the chute, a door for closing said opening, said door having an opening therein, means normally holding the .ClQOr closed, a member situatedinside the door and having a portion exposed through the openingin the door, said portion forming a target at which an article may be thrown, means actuated by said member when it is moved by the impact ot an article thrown against it to release the door, and means for automatically opening the door when it is released.

3. in a device of the class described, the combination with a chute, ot a plurality of compartments at the head ot the chute each having a door opening leading to the chute, a door ttor closing each opening, a latch to hold each door closed, a latch-releasing meinber. for each latch, each latch-releasing inember being situated on the inside oi" the door, and the latter having an opening through which a portion et the latch-releasing member is exposed. thereby to form a target `at which an article may be thrown, the' movement et said latcl'i-releasill@l member due to the impact of an article thrown against it operating to .release the latch, and means to automatically open the door when the latch is released.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my Vname to this specitication.

Hna-Beier N. ninewar.. 

